EP3792390B1 - Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3792390B1
EP3792390B1 EP19798871.0A EP19798871A EP3792390B1 EP 3792390 B1 EP3792390 B1 EP 3792390B1 EP 19798871 A EP19798871 A EP 19798871A EP 3792390 B1 EP3792390 B1 EP 3792390B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
water
treatment apparatus
clothes treatment
trap
protruding rib
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP19798871.0A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3792390A4 (de
EP3792390A1 (de
Inventor
Seonghwan Kim
Myoungjong Kim
Manseok LEE
Ingeon Lee
Haeyoon JE
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from KR1020180052733A external-priority patent/KR20190128484A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020180052745A external-priority patent/KR102659397B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020180052742A external-priority patent/KR102568205B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020180053337A external-priority patent/KR20190128944A/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020180055603A external-priority patent/KR20190130898A/ko
Priority to EP23208148.9A priority Critical patent/EP4310241A3/de
Application filed by LG Electronics Inc filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Publication of EP3792390A1 publication Critical patent/EP3792390A1/de
Publication of EP3792390A4 publication Critical patent/EP3792390A4/de
Publication of EP3792390B1 publication Critical patent/EP3792390B1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/32—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/34—Control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers  characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • D06F58/45—Cleaning or disinfection of machine parts, e.g. of heat exchangers or filters
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
    • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/30—Blowers
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/206—Heat pump arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
    • D06F58/22—Lint collecting arrangements
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
    • D06F58/30—Drying processes 

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a clothes treatment apparatus performing a drying function, and a method for controlling the same.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus refers to every device which is configured to manage or treat clothes, such as washing, drying or removing wrinkles on clothes, bedding, and the like, at home or at a place like a dry cleaning shop.
  • Clothes treatment apparatuses may include a washing machine, a dryer, a washing and drying machine, a refresher, an iron, a steamer, and the like.
  • a washing machine is an apparatus washing clothes or bedding.
  • a dryer is an apparatus that dries moisture from clothes or bedding.
  • a washing and drying machine is an apparatus that has both a washing function and a drying function.
  • a refresher is an apparatus that refreshes clothes or the like, such as removing odors and dust from clothes or performing antistatic treatment.
  • An iron is an apparatus for removing unnecessary wrinkles from clothes or creating wrinkles necessary for clothes.
  • a steamer is an apparatus that sterilizes clothes or delicately removes unnecessary wrinkles from clothes using hot steam without a contact with a hot plate.
  • the dryer as an apparatus performing a drying function, evaporates moisture contained in an object to be treated, such as clothes or bedding put in a drum (or tub), by supplying hot air to the object to be treated. Air which is discharged out of the drum after evaporating the moisture from the object to be treated contains such moisture so as to be in a hot and humid state.
  • dryers are classified into a condensing type and an exhaust type depending on a way of treating such hot and humid air.
  • the condensing type dryer does not discharge hot and humid air to outside, but condenses moisture contained in the hot and humid air through heat exchange while circulating the air.
  • the exhaust type dryer directly discharges hot and humid air to outside.
  • the condensing type dryer and the exhaust type dryer are structurally different from each other in that the condensing type dryer has a structure for treating condensate water and the exhaust type dryer has a structure for exhausting air.
  • the condensing type dryer may include a heater system that generates Joule's heat to condense moisture through a heat exchange process or a heat pump system using a refrigerant. Regardless of which heat exchange system a dryer is equipped with, heat exchange efficiency affects power consumption or performance of the dryer.
  • Prior art literature Korean Laid-open Patent Application No. 10-2013-0127816 (November 25, 2013 ), discloses a condensing type dryer having a heat pump system.
  • the prior art literature teaches that it is necessary to suppress air leakage in order to improve heat exchange efficiency.
  • the prior art literature also proposes a U-trap as a configuration for suppressing air leakage.
  • the U-trap is configured to prevent air from leaking to a lower portion of an evaporator due to accumulated condensate water.
  • a general clothes treatment apparatus having a drying function
  • high-temperature air (or hot air) exhausted from the drum is cooled and condensed through heat exchange with an evaporator, and hot air is generated through heat exchange with a condenser to be supplied into the drum to remove moisture.
  • air which has passed through the evaporator is exhausted after being brought into contact with clothes as the object to be dried, the air contains many lint particles coming from a surface of the clothes during a drying process.
  • a lint removal filter is installed on an exhaust path of hot air. Accordingly, those lint particles are partially suppressed from being exhausted to outside or introduced into the evaporator.
  • a pump connected to an injection flow path generates pressure to suck the condensate water to an injection port.
  • a flow path or valve to which pressure generated by the pump is transferred has a plurality of holes at various points, and thereby not only the condensate water is sucked but also external air is introduced.
  • the capacity of the clothes treatment apparatus increases, the capacity of a fan installed in the clothes treatment apparatus increases, which causes the condensate water to be more affected by an air flow rate. That is, as the air flow rate affecting the condensate water increases, the condensate water is not accurately injected on the surface of the evaporator.
  • a condensate water storage unit for storing condensate water is provided inside the clothes treatment apparatus using the condensate water to clean (or wash) a heat pump.
  • the condensate water is drained from the condensate water storage unit, to prevent overflow of the condensate water.
  • a control unit of the clothes treatment apparatus determines whether or not the drainage is normally performed by sensing the water level of the condensate water storage unit, and determines whether to terminate the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus according to the determination result.
  • One aspect of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus capable of solving the above problems and other drawbacks, and a method for controlling the same.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus having an improved air flow mechanism for circulating air into a drum.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus having a structure capable of preventing a decrease in efficiency of a heat exchange system that occurs due to an improvement in an air flow mechanism.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus having a trap for preventing suction or introduction of external air, so as to prevent a problem that external air is introduced into an air circulation flow path due to rotation of a circulation fan and lowers efficiency of a heat exchange system.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a structure of a trap that does not lose an air blocking function in spite of strong suction force of a circulation fan.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a trap having a structure for preventing a failure of a water level sensor disposed in a water collection part.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of preventing breakage to a trap.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a water tank structure having an increased capacity for storing condensate water generated in response to an operation of a heat pump system.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a structure of a clothes treatment apparatus capable of storing more condensate water than the related art clothes treatment apparatus.
  • Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of preventing a decrease in efficiency of a heat exchange system that occurs due to an improvement in an air flow mechanism.
  • Another aspect which is not part of the present invention, is to provide a structure capable of quickly unfreezing condensate water when the condensate water accumulated (or gathered) in a trap portion is frozen.
  • Another aspect which is not part of the present invention, is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus capable of maintaining stability while operating a drum and a blower fan using separate motors, and a method for controlling the same.
  • Another aspect which is not part of the present invention, is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus having a cleaning device for cleaning a heat exchanger using a cleaning nozzle, and a method for controlling the same.
  • Another aspect of the present which is not part of the present invention, is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus capable of controlling a suction flow path so as not to suction external air or substances such as dust, other than objects to be sucked by a cleaning device, and a method for controlling the same.
  • Another aspect of the present disclosure which is not part of the present invention, is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus capable of increasing an effect of cleaning a surface of an evaporator by controlling an operation of a blower fan or a ventilation fan during an operation of a cleaning device, and a method for controlling the same.
  • Another aspect which is not part of the present invention, is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus capable of accurately detecting a water level of a condensate water storage unit, and a method for controlling the same.
  • Another aspect which is not part of the present invention, is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus capable of accurately detecting whether or not drainage for a condensate water storage unit has been normally performed, and a method for controlling the same.
  • Another aspect which is not part of the present invention, is to provide a clothes treatment apparatus capable of maintaining drying performance by preventing an operation of the clothes treatment apparatus from being stopped according to a change in a water level in the condensate water storage unit, and a method for controlling the same.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus that includes a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried, an air circulation flow path connected to the drum, a circulation fan disposed at a downstream side of a heat exchanger inside the air circulation flow path and configured to generate a suction force to suction air in the air circulation flow path and supply the air to the drum, and a trap having a water collection part formed below the drum to collect condensate water, and a bottom surface lower than a surround region in the water collection part to gather the condensate water therein, wherein
  • the air circulation flow path is connected to a front opening and a rear opening of the drum to define a path through which air discharged from the front opening of the drum is introduced into the rear opening of the drum via a heat exchanger.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus includes a base, and the base is disposed below the drum to provide a mounting space of components constructing the air circulation flow path and the heat exchanger.
  • the circulation fan is installed at the downstream side of the heat exchanger based on the flow of the air in the air circulation flow path.
  • the water collection part has a bottom surface lower than a surrounding region on the base to collect condensate water generated from air circulating in the drum.
  • the trap is formed in the water collection part to prevent external air from flowing into the air circulation flow path via the water collection part due to a suction force of the circulation fan.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus further includes a cover disposed to cover the water collection part.
  • the trap includes an upwardly-protruding rib protruding from the bottom surface of the trap toward the cover and having an upper end spaced apart from the cover, and a downwardly-protruding rib protruding from the cover toward the bottom surface of the trap and having a lower end spaced apart from the bottom surface of the trap.
  • one of the upwardly-protruding rib and the downwardly-protruding rib may surround another.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib and the downwardly-protruding rib have a shape corresponding to a side surface of a cylinder, and are arranged to form concentric circles of different sizes.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib may protrude to surround the downwardly-protruding rib.
  • a flow path defined in the trap may be configured such that an area thereof at a second position is larger than an area at a first position.
  • the first position may correspond to a hollow portion of the downwardly-protruding rib.
  • the area of the flow path at the first position may be calculated as a cross-sectional area of the hollow portion.
  • the second position may correspond to a position between the bottom surface of the trap and the lower end of the downwardly-protruding rib.
  • the area at the second position may be calculated as an area of a side surface of a virtual cylinder that a cross-section of the hollow portion is a bottom side and a spacing between the bottom surface of the trap and the downwardly-protruding rib is a height.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib and the downwardly-protruding rib are all provided in plurality, and are alternately disposed along a direction away from the center of the concentric circles.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib may include a first upwardly-protruding rib, and a second upwardly-protruding rib having a larger diameter than the first upwardly-protruding rib.
  • the downwardly-protruding rib may include a first downwardly-protruding rib having a smaller diameter than the first upwardly-protruding rib, and a second downwardly-protruding rib having a diameter larger than that of the first upwardly-protruding rib and smaller than that of the second upwardly-protruding rib.
  • the first upwardly-protruding rib may be located to surround the first downwardly-protruding rib
  • the second downwardly-protruding rib may be located to surround the first upwardly-protruding rib
  • the second upwardly-protruding rib may be located to surround the second downwardly-protruding rib.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may further include a water pump installed in the water collection part.
  • An opposite portion of the water pump based on the trap, among side surfaces of the water collection part, may be defined by any of the upwardly-protruding rib and the downwardly-protruding rib that is disposed at an outermost side.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may further include a stepped portion protruding upward from a boundary between the bottom surface of the water collection part and the trap to form a step with the bottom surface of the water collection part.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may further include a stepped portion protruding upward from a boundary between the bottom surface of the water collection part and the trap to form a step with the bottom surface of the water collection part.
  • the stepped portion may be formed by any of the upwardly-protruding ribs that is disposed at an outermost side.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may further include a water pump mounted to the water collection part to transfer the condensate water collected in the water collection part.
  • the water pump may include blades rotatably disposed toward the bottom surface of the water collection part, and the stepped portion may be formed such that an upper end thereof is lower than lower ends of the blades.
  • the cover may be configured to cover the water pump.
  • the cover may include a trap cover portion formed on an upper side of the trap to face the trap, and a hose connection portion protruding from the downwardly-protruding rib to an upper side of the cover through the trap cover portion.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may further include a water tank connected to the water pump and configured to accommodate the condensate water transferred by the water pump, a water tank support frame supporting the water tank and configured to accommodate condensate water overflowing from the water tank, and a return hose connected to the water tank support frame and the hose connection portion to return the condensate water overflowing to the water tank support frame to the water collection part.
  • the return hose may have a tangential tilt greater than zero in an entire section thereof with respect to a ground where the clothes treatment apparatus is installed, so as to prevent the condensate water from accumulating therein.
  • the base may include a breakage prevention rib formed around the trap.
  • the breakage prevention rib may protrude downward from a lower surface of the base, and a lower end of the breakage prevention rib may be disposed at a position lower than a lower surface of the trap.
  • the breakage prevention rib may be formed to surround the trap.
  • a ratio of an entire length of the water tank to a length of a protruding portion of the water tank may be 11:1 to 13:1.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may include a discharge hose connected to the water tank and defining a flow path for discharging the condensate water, and a water pump connected to the discharge hose and provided in the water collection part to transfer the condensate water collected in the water collection part to the water tank.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may include a water tank support frame supporting the water tank in the cabinet.
  • the water tank support frame may surround the portion of the water tank protruding from the cabinet.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus may include a cabinet defining appearance, a drum provided in an inner space of the cabinet and opened toward the rear, a heat exchanger provided on an air circulation flow path connected to the drum to condense moisture contained in air discharged from the drum, a circulation fan disposed at the rear of the heat exchanger on the air circulation flow path to allow heated air to be introduced into the drum, a collection part formed below the heat exchanger to collect condensate water condensed by the heat exchanger, a water tank provided above the drum and connected to the collection part to store the condensate water, a water tank support frame configured to surround the water tank, and a return hose having one end connected to the water tank support frame and another end connected to the air circulation flow path at the front of the circulation fan and configured to return the condensate water overflowing from the water tank into a mounting portion where the heat exchanger is disposed.
  • the return hose may have a trip portion extending upward at least once such that the
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may include a first hose connected to the water tank, and a water pump provided in the collection part and connected to the first hose to drain the condensate water.
  • the return hose may be connected to the second hose.
  • the trap portion may include a second bent part bent in an upwardly-extending direction intersecting with the one direction.
  • At least part of the trap portion may be inclined upward.
  • the holder may be made of a material with thermal conductivity, and may surround at least part of each of the trap portion and the discharge pipe.
  • the holder may be formed to be detachable from each of the discharge pipe and the trap portion.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus may include a main body defining an outer appearance, a drum rotatably installed inside the main body and accommodating an object to be dried, a compressor of a heat pump for compressing refrigerant such that moisture-removed air circulates to the drum via a condenser and an evaporator when the moisture is removed from heated air absorbed from the object to be dried, a blower fan for generating a flow of the heated air or the moisture-removed air, a driving unit having a plurality of motors for providing driving force to the drum, the blower fan, and the compressor, a cleaning unit for injecting (or spraying) condensate water generated in the evaporator onto a surface of the evaporator to remove foreign substances that accumulate on the surface of the evaporator while the heated air passes through the evaporator, a valve unit having a plurality of condensate water ports to define a part of paths along which the con
  • a first port among the plurality of condensate water ports may be connected to outside of the clothes treatment apparatus, and the control unit may control an operation of the cleaning unit to prevent introduction of external air of the clothes treatment apparatus in a state where the first port is open.
  • the valve unit may further include a valve case, a plurality of condensate water ports protruding from the valve case to set flow paths of the condensate water, a plate member rotatably disposed inside the valve case to block at least some of the plurality of condensate water ports, and a motor configured to rotate the plate member.
  • the fourth port may first be open, the third port may be open next, then the second port may be open, and the first port may be open the last.
  • control unit may control the rotation of the plate member such that one of the first to fourth ports of the valve unit is maintained in the open state for a preset time interval.
  • control unit may operate the pump until before the first port is open while the plate member is rotating.
  • control unit may stop the operation of the pump for a preset period when the first port is open.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus may include a main body defining outer appearance, a drum rotatably installed inside the main body and accommodating an object to be dried, a compressor of a heat pump for compressing refrigerant such that moisture-removed air circulates to the drum via a condenser and an evaporator when the moisture is removed from heated air absorbed from the object to be dried, a blower fan for generating a flow of the heated air or the moisture-removed air, a driving unit having a plurality of motors for providing driving force to the drum, the blower fan, and the compressor, a cleaning unit for injecting (or spraying) condensate water generated in the evaporator onto a surface of the evaporator to remove foreign substances that accumulate on the surface of the evaporator while the heated air passes through the evaporator, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the cleaning unit and changing a rotational speed of the blower fan based on
  • control unit may control the motor of the valve unit such that the state of the plate member is switched from a first state in which one condensate water port connected to the outside is open, among the plurality of condensate water ports, into a second state in which another one of the plurality of condensate water ports is open.
  • the control unit may control the blower fan to be operated when the state of the plate member is completely switched.
  • control unit may monitor the water level sensor for a preset third period after the operation of the drain pump is terminated, and control the operation of the compressor based on the monitoring result.
  • the trap may have a flow path structure in a zigzag shape repeatedly extending up and down, thereby maintaining an external air blocking effect in spite of the strong suction force of the circulation fan.
  • a water tank provided in the clothes treatment apparatus can have a structure with an increased condensate water storage capacity.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus can be installed even at a place without a drainage facility.
  • a pump when a cleaning operation for a heat pump is performed, a pump can be operated according to an operating state of a valve, thereby preventing an introduction of external air into a circulation flow path or pump connected to the valve.
  • water overflow due to the introduction of the external air into the clothes treatment apparatus can be prevented by adjusting the rotational speed of the fan.
  • an effect of preventing water from being drawn to one side in the clothes treatment apparatus can also be obtained by adjusting the rotational speed of the fan.
  • FIG. 1 is a conceptual view illustrating a clothes treatment apparatus 1000 in accordance with one implementation of the present invention.
  • a cabinet 1010 may define appearance of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the cabinet 1010 may be constituted in combination of a plurality of plates configuring front, rear, left, right, upper and lower parts of the clothes treatment apparatus. Each plate may be named in combination of a position and a cover.
  • a plate defining the front part of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may be referred to as a front cover
  • a plate defining the rear part of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may be referred to as a rear cover
  • plates defining the side parts of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may be referred to as side covers.
  • a front opening 1011 through which an object to be treated is put in a drum 1030 may be formed through the front part of the cabinet 1010.
  • the door 1020 may be configured to open and close the front opening 1011.
  • the door 1020 may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 1010 by a hinge (not shown).
  • the door 1020 may partially be formed of a transparent material. Therefore, even when the door 1020 is closed, the inside of the drum 1030 may be visually exposed through the transparent material.
  • the drum 1030 may be provided with front and rear openings that are open toward front and rear sides of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the object to be treated may be introduced into the drum 1030 through the front opening.
  • Hot dry air may be supplied into the drum 1030 through the rear opening.
  • the drum 1030 may be rotatably supported by a front supporter 1040, a rear supporter 1050, and rollers 1060.
  • the front supporter 1040 may be disposed below the front of the drum 1030, and the rear supporter 1050 may be disposed at the rear of the drum 1030.
  • the front supporter 1040 and the rear supporter 1050 may be connected to the cabinet 1010 by connection members 1013 or the like.
  • the cabinet 1010 may include pillars 1012 extending in a vertical direction at positions adjacent to both corners of the front supporter 1040.
  • One part of the connection member may be disposed to face the front supporter 1040, and another part of the connection member 1013 may be bent from the one part several times to surround the pillar 1012.
  • the connection member 1013 and the front supporter 1040 may be connected to each other.
  • the connection member 1013 and the pillar 1012 may be connected to each other.
  • various types of connection mechanisms may be applied.
  • the rollers 1060 may be installed on the front supporter 1040 and the rear supporter 1050, respectively.
  • the rollers 1060 may be disposed right beneath the drum 1030 to be in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the drum 1030.
  • the roller 1060 may be rotatable, and an elastic member such as rubber may be coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the roller 1060.
  • the roller 1060 rotates in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the drum 1030.
  • Heat pump cycle devices 1100 for changing temperature and humidity of air to be supplied to the drum 1030 may be installed below the drum 1030.
  • a space below the drum 1030 may indicate a lower portion in a space defined between the outer circumferential surface of the drum 1030 and an inner circumferential surface of the cabinet 1010.
  • the heat pump cycle devices 1100 refer to devices constituting a cycle to sequentially evaporate, compress, condense, and expand a refrigerant. When the heat pump cycle devices 1100 are operated, air may become hot and dry while exchanging heat sequentially with an evaporator 1110 and a condenser 1130.
  • An inlet duct 1210 and an outlet duct 1220 may define a flow path for circulating the hot dry air generated through the heat pump cycle devices 1100 to the drum 1030.
  • the inlet duct 1210 may be disposed on the rear of the drum 1030, and the hot dry air generated through the heat pump cycle devices 1100 may be supplied into the drum 1030 through the inlet duct 1210.
  • the outlet duct 1220 may be disposed on a front lower side of the drum 1030. Air which has dried the object to be treated may be recovered through the outlet duct 1220.
  • connection duct 1230 and a circulation fan cover 1330 may be disposed between the inlet duct 1210 and the outlet duct 1220.
  • connection duct 1230 An inlet of the connection duct 1230 may be connected to the outlet duct 1220.
  • the connection duct 1230 may enclose the evaporator 1110 and the condenser 1130 corresponding to a heat exchanger among the heat pump cycle devices 1100.
  • An outlet of the connection duct 1230 may be connected to the circulation fan cover 1330.
  • a base 1310 may be disposed on a lower side of the drum 1030 and the heat pump cycle devices 1100.
  • the base 1310 refers to a molded body that supports various components of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 including the heat pump cycle devices 1100 from the lower side.
  • a base cover 1320 may be disposed between the base 1310 and the drum 1030.
  • the base cover 1320 may cover the heat pump cycle devices 1100 mounted on the base 1310.
  • an air circulation flow path may be defined. Some of the heat pump cycle devices 1100 may be located in the air circulation flow path.
  • a water tank 1410 may be disposed on an upper left or upper right side of the drum 1030.
  • the upper left or upper right side of the drum 1030 may indicate an upper left or upper right portion in a space defined between the outer circumferential surface of the drum 1030 and the inner circumferential surface of the cabinet 1010.
  • the water tank 1410 is shown to be disposed on the upper left side of the drum 1030. Condensate water may be collected in the water tank 1410.
  • a water pump 1440 (see FIG. 3 ) may be installed inside the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the water pump 1440 may raise the condensate water up to the water tank 1410. This condensate water may be collected in the water tank 1410.
  • a water tank cover 1420 may be disposed at one corner of the front part of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 so as to correspond to the position of the water tank 1410.
  • the water tank cover 1420 may be formed to be gripped by hand, and may be disposed on the front surface of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the water tank cover 1420 When the water tank cover 1420 is pulled out to empty the condensate water collected in the water tank 1410, the water tank 1410 may be drawn out of a water tank support frame 1430 together with the water tank cover 1420.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 may support the water tank 1410 inside the cabinet 1010.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 may extend in a direction that the water tank 1410 is pushed in or pulled out, so that the water tank 1410 is guided to be pushed in or pulled out.
  • An input/output panel 1500 may be disposed next to the water tank cover 1420.
  • the input/output panel 1500 may include an input unit 1510 for receiving a selection of a clothes treatment course from a user, and an output unit 1520 for visually displaying an operating state of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the input unit 1510 may be configured as a jog dial, but is not limited thereto.
  • the output unit 1520 may be configured to visually display the operating state of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may have a separate component for audible display in addition to the visual display.
  • a control unit 1600 may be configured to control the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 based on a user's input applied through the input unit 1510.
  • the control unit 1600 may include a printed circuit board and elements mounted on the printed circuit board.
  • the control unit 1600 may control the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 according to a preset algorithm.
  • the printed circuit board and the elements mounted on the printed circuit board that constitute the control unit 1600 may be disposed at an upper left or upper right side of the drum 1030.
  • FIG. 1 it is shown that the printed circuit board is disposed at the upper right side of the drum 1030, which is opposite to the water tank 1410 at the upper side of the drum 1030.
  • the printed circuit board and the elements may be spaced as apart as possible from the water tank 1410 or the heat pump cycle devices 1100.
  • An inner space of the cabinet 1010 may be divided into a first space I and a second space II based on the drum 1030.
  • the first space I may be a cylindrical space enclosed by the drum 1030, and correspond to a space for accommodating an object to be treated such as clothes or the like.
  • the second space II may be an annular space between the cabinet 1010 and the drum 1030, and correspond to a space in which electric parts and mechanical structures of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 are disposed.
  • the space between the cabinet 1010 and the drum 1030 refers to the second space II.
  • regions in which electric parts, mechanical structures, etc. can be installed between the cabinet 1010 and the drum 1030 may be four corners outside the drum 1030 when the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 is viewed from the front.
  • the evaporator 1110 and the condenser 1130 corresponding to the heat exchanger and the connection duct 1230 enclosing the heat exchanger may be disposed to be eccentric to one side below the drum 1030 so as to occupy one of the four corners.
  • a compressor 1120, a drum motor 1800, a blower fan 1820, etc. may be disposed to be eccentric to another side below the drum 1030 so as to occupy another corner of the four corners.
  • the printed circuit board constituting the control unit 1600 may be disposed to be eccentric to one side above the drum 1030 so as to occupy still another corner of the four corners.
  • the water tank 1410 may be disposed to be eccentric to another side above the drum 1030 so as to occupy the last corner of the four corners.
  • blower fan 1820, the connection duct 1230, the printed circuit board constituting the control unit 1600, and the water tank 1410 may not overlap one another in the front and rear direction of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • this arrangement may provide a condition for maximizing the size of the drum 1030 in the limited cabinet 1010 by efficiently utilizing the inner space of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus 1000 having a drum with a larger size than the related art one.
  • a cross-sectional area of the drum 1030 which may be calculated as an area of a circle, may be in the range of 330,000 to 360,000 mm 2 .
  • the air circulation flow path may be defined by the inlet duct 1210, the outlet duct 1220, the connection duct 1230 disposed between the inlet duct 1210 and the outlet duct 1220, and the circulation fan cover 1330.
  • Each of the inlet duct 1210, the outlet duct 1220, the connection duct 1230, and the circulation fan cover 1330 may be constituted by combining a plurality of members.
  • the inlet duct 1210, the drum 1030, the outlet duct 1220, the connection duct 1230, and the circulation fan cover 1330 may be sequentially connected to one another, and the circulation fan cover 1330 may then connected to the inlet duct 1210 again, thereby defining a closed flow path.
  • the inlet duct 1210 may extend from the connection duct 1230 to a rear surface of the rear supporter 1050.
  • the rear surface of the rear supporter 1050 refers to a surface facing the rear of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000. Since the drum 1030 and the connection duct 1230 are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, the inlet duct 1210 may have a structure of extending to the rear of the drum 1030 from the connection duct 1230 disposed below the drum 1030 in the vertical direction.
  • the inlet duct 1210 may be coupled to the rear surface of the rear supporter 1050.
  • a hole may be formed through the rear surface of the rear supporter 1050. Accordingly, hot dry air may be supplied from the inlet duct 1210 into the drum 1030 through the hole formed through the rear supporter 1050.
  • the outlet duct 1220 may extend from the front supporter 1040 to the connection duct 1230.
  • the outlet duct 1220 may also extend in the vertical direction, similar to the inlet duct 1210, but an extending length of the outlet duct 1220 in the vertical direction may be shorter than that of the inlet duct 1210. Air which has dried an object to be treated in the drum 1030 may be recovered into the connection duct 1230 through the outlet duct 1220.
  • the air circulation flow path may be disposed eccentrically to the left or right of the drum 1030.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates that the air circulation flow path is disposed at a lower right side of the drum 1030.
  • the eccentric arrangement of the air circulation flow path may be for efficient drying of an object to be treated and for efficient arrangement of components.
  • An inlet portion 1231 of the connection duct 1230 may be disposed at the lower side of the outlet duct 1220 to be connected to the outlet duct 1220.
  • the inlet portion 1231 of the connection duct 1230 may guide air in a direction inclined toward a lower left side or lower right side, together with the outlet duct 1220.
  • the inlet portion 1231 of the connection duct 1230 may become narrower downward.
  • a left surface of the inlet portion 1231 may extend in a direction inclined downward to the right. If the air circulation flow path is disposed at the lower left side of the drum 1030, a right surface of the inlet portion 1231 may be formed to be inclined downward to the left.
  • the circulation fan 1710 may be surrounded by the base 1310 and the circulation fan cover 1330.
  • An outlet portion 1331 of the circulation fan cover 1330 may be disposed on an upper side of the circulation fan 1710.
  • the outlet portion 1313 may be connected to the inlet duct 1210.
  • Hot dry air generated by the heat pump cycle devices 1100 may be supplied into the drum 1030 through the inlet duct 1210.
  • the circulation fan 1710 may be disposed at the rearmost inside the cabinet 1010. In the air circulation flow path, the circulation fan 1710 may be disposed at the downstream side of the condenser 1130 based on an air flow.
  • the circulation fan 1710 may be configured as a centrifugal fan.
  • the centrifugal fan may be configured to suck air in an axial direction and blow it in a radial direction.
  • the condenser 1130 may be disposed in a direction in which the rotation shaft of the circulation fan 1710 extends.
  • the circulation fan 1710 may suck hot dry air from the condenser 1130.
  • the hot dry air sucked by the circulation fan 1710 may be blown through an outlet portion 1331 of the circulation fan cover 1330 disposed above the circulation fan 1710.
  • the centrifugal fan may create a strong air volume and fast wind speed based on a strong suction force, compared to an axial flow fan.
  • a water pump 1440 may be installed at one side of the condenser 1130 (or one side of the circulation fan 1710).
  • the water pump 1440 may be configured to transfer condensate water collected in a water collection part 1315 in which the water pump 1440 is located.
  • the condensate water collected in the water collection part by the structure of the base 1310 may be transferred into the water tank 1410 by the water pump 1440.
  • the condensate water may be transferred by the water pump 1440 to be used to clean (wash) the evaporator 1110 or the condenser 1130.
  • the water pump 1440 may be connected to a control valve 1470 by a hose 1451.
  • the condensate water collected in the water collection part 1315 may be transferred to a control valve 1470.
  • the control valve 1470 may be configured to distribute the condensate water transferred by the water pump 1440 into to several hoses 1451, 1452 and 1453.
  • the hoses 1451, 1452, and 1453 connected to the control valve 1470 may be made of a flexible material.
  • Each of the hoses 1451, 1452, 1453 may be referred to as a condensate water supply hose in the sense of supplying the condensate water.
  • an ordinal number is given to each of the hoses 1451, 1452, and 1453.
  • the condensate water transferred by the water pump 1440 flows into the first hose 1452 by the operation of the control valve 1470, the condensate water may flow into the water tank 1410 along the first hose 1452.
  • the condensate water may be temporarily stored in the water tank 1410 until before the user empties the water tank 1410.
  • the second hose 1453 may be connected to the control valve 1470 and a condensate water injection portion 1461.
  • the condensate water injection portion 1461 may be configured to inject (or spray) the condensate water on the surface of the evaporator 1110 or the condenser 1130. Dust or foreign substances may be stuck on the surface of the evaporator 1110 and the condenser 1130 with accumulation of an operating time of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000. Since dust or foreign substances cause heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator 1110 and the condenser 1130 to be lowered, it is necessary to remote them quickly.
  • the condensate water injection portion 1461 may inject the supplied condensate water to the evaporator 1110 or the condenser 1130.
  • an injection port of the condensate water injection portion 1461 may be disposed to face the evaporator 1110 or the condenser 1130.
  • the second hose 1453 and the condensate water injection portion 1461 may be provided in plurality to inject (or spray) the condensate water over a wide region.
  • Fixing pins 1462 may be provided to fix the condensate water injection portion 1461 to the base cover 1321 or 1322.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may include a return hose 1454.
  • the return hose 1454 may be connected to the water tank support frame 1430 and the hose connection portion 1343 of the cover 1340.
  • the condensate water transferred to the water tank 1410 by the water pump 1440 may be temporarily stored in the water tank 1410. However, when an amount of condensate water is larger than the capacity of the water tank 1410, the condensate water which has been introduced in the water tank 1410 may overflow to the water tank support frame 1430.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 may be configured to receive the condensate water that overflows from the water tank 1410. In particular, in order to prevent the overflowing condensate water from being introduced into the clothes treatment apparatus 1000, the bottom of the water tank support frame 1430 except for a portion connected to the return hose 1454 may have a blocked structure.
  • a hole may be formed through a portion of the water tank support frame 1430 which is connected to the return hose 1454.
  • the condensate water may be introduced into the return hose 1454 through the hole to be collected back into the water collection part 1315 along the return hose 154.
  • the bottom of the water tank support frame 1430 may have an inclined structure to gather the condensate water to the hole.
  • a compressor 1120 and a compressor cooling fan 1720 for cooling the compressor 1120 may be disposed at one side of the water pump 1440.
  • the compressor 1120 may be an element constituting the heat pump cycle devices 1100, but does not directly exchange heat with air. Thus, the compressor 1120 does not need to be installed in the air circulation flow path. On the contrary, if the compressor 1120 is installed in the air circulation flow path, it may interfere with the flow of air. Therefore, the compressor 1120, as illustrated in FIG. 3 , may preferably be installed outside the air circulation flow path.
  • the compressor cooling fan 1720 may generate wind toward the compressor 1120 or in a direction of sucking air from the compressor 1120. When temperature of the compressor 1120 is lowered by the compressor cooling fan 1720, compression efficiency may be improved.
  • a gas-liquid separator 1140 may be disposed at an upstream side of the compressor 1120 based on the flow of a refrigerant.
  • the gas-liquid separator 1140 may separate an abnormal refrigerant introduced into the compressor 1120 into a gas phase and a liquid phase so that only the gas phase is introduced into the compressor 1120.
  • the liquid phase may cause a failure of the compressor and deterioration of compression efficiency.
  • the refrigerant may be evaporated (liquid phase -> gaseous phase) while absorbing heat in the evaporator 1110 so as to be sucked into the compressor 1120 in the gaseous phase of low temperature and low pressure.
  • the gas-liquid separator 1140 When the gas-liquid separator 1140 is installed at the upstream side of the compressor 1120, the refrigerant may pass through the gas-liquid separator 1140 before flowing into the compressor 1120.
  • the refrigerant in the gaseous phase may be compressed into a high-temperature and high-pressure state in the compressor 1120, and flow to the condenser 1130.
  • the refrigerant may be liquefied while dissipating heat in the condenser 1130.
  • the liquefied high-pressure refrigerant may be depressurized in an expansion apparatus (not shown).
  • the refrigerant in the liquid phase of the low temperature and low pressure may flow into the evaporator 1110.
  • Hot dry air may be supplied into the drum 1030 through the inlet duct 1210 to dry an object to be treated.
  • the hot dry air may become hot and humid while evaporating moisture of the object to be treated.
  • the hot humid air may be recovered through the outlet duct 1220 and then receive heat from the refrigerant through the evaporator 1110, thereby being cold air.
  • an amount of saturated water vapor in the air may decrease, and the vapor contained in the air may be condensed.
  • the cold dry air may become hot dry air by receiving heat from the refrigerant through the evaporator 1110, so as to be supplied back into the drum 1030.
  • a drum motor 1800 may be disposed at the front of the compressor 1120.
  • the drum motor 1800 may have an output shaft protruding in both directions.
  • a portion of the output shaft protruding to one side of the drum motor 1800 may be referred to as a first output shaft
  • another portion of the output shaft protruding to another side of the drum motor 1800 may be referred to as a second output shaft.
  • the first output shaft and the second output shaft define a single rotation shaft, they rotate in the same direction and at the same speed.
  • the first and second output shafts may be exposed in opposite directions. It can be seen that the first output shaft is disposed to face the rear of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000, and the second output shaft is disposed to face the front of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • a pulley 1810 may be installed to be rotated by the first output shaft.
  • the pulley 1810 may also be rotated together with the first output shaft in an opposite direction to the rotation direction of the first output shaft.
  • the pulley 1810 may be rotated in engagement with the first output shaft.
  • a drum belt (not shown) may be coupled to the pulley 1810, so that a driving force of the drum motor 1800 is transmitted to the drum 1030 through the drum belt.
  • the drum 1030 may be rotated by the driving force of the drum motor 1800 transmitted through the pulley 1810 and the drum belt.
  • a rotational speed of the drum 1030 may be controlled by the pulley 1810. Since the drum belt is not directly connected to the first output shaft, the rotational speed of the drum 1030 is not necessarily equal to the rotational speed of the first output shaft.
  • a blower fan 1820 may be installed on the second output shaft.
  • the blower fan 1820 may be configured as an axial flow fan that generates wind in a direction from the rear to the front of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the blower fan 1820 may generate wind in a direction in which air is sucked from the drum motor 1800.
  • the direction in which the air is sucked from the drum motor 1800 may indicate a direction from the first output shaft toward the second output shaft.
  • the drum motor 1800 may be cooled by the blower fan 1820. Since the blower fan 1820 is directly connected to the second output shaft, the rotational speed of the blower fan 1820 may be equal to the rotational speed of the second output shaft.
  • the blower fan 1820 may include a hub 1821 and a plurality of vanes 1822.
  • the hub 1821 may be directly connected to the second output shaft of the drum motor 1800.
  • the plurality of vanes 1822 may protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the hub 1821.
  • the plurality of vanes 1822 may have the same shape, and may be disposed to be inclined with respect to the second output shaft in order to generate wind in a direction in which air is sucked.
  • the plurality of vanes 1822 may be provided in odd number.
  • the number of vanes 1822 may affect vibration generated by the blower fan 1820. If the vanes 1822 are even-numbered, a resonance phenomenon may occur and vibration may increase. On the other hand, if the vanes 1822 are odd-numbered, the vibration may be more reduced than the case where the vanes 1822 are even-numbered. It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the number of vanes 1822 is five.
  • drum 1030 is incompletely sealed, dew condensation occurred due to such incomplete sealing of the drum 1030 may be suppressed when the blower fan 1820 is rotated. For example, it is difficult to completely discharge hot humid air into the space between the outer circumferential surface of the drum 1030 and the inner circumferential surface of the cabinet 1010. In particular, when air leaked from the drum 1030 stagnates, dew condensation is caused.
  • the blower fan 1820 may produce convection, so as to suppress stagnation of the air leaked from the drum 1030 and an occurrence of dew condensation due to the air stagnation.
  • the air leaked from the drum 1030 may be exhausted while continuously flowing by the blower fan 1820.
  • the time when the blower fan 1820 needs to be rotated is the same as the time when the drum 1030 is rotated. This is because hot dry air is supplied to the drum 1030 and hot humid air leaks from the drum 1030 while the drum 1030 is rotating. Therefore, a situation in which power is consumed due to unnecessary rotation of the blower fan 1820 in a state in which the rotation of the drum 1030 is not needed may not occur.
  • the drum motor 1800 and the blower fan 1820 may be installed in the second space II.
  • the drum motor 1800 and the blower fan 1820 may be disposed outside a duct.
  • the outside of the duct refers to a space between the cabinet 1010 and the connection duct 1320.
  • the space between the cabinet 1010 and the drum 1030 may be divided into the inside and the outside of the connection duct 1320. Air that is supplied into the drum 1030 or discharged from the drum 1030 may flow along the inside of the connection duct 1320.
  • the blower fan 1820 should be distinguished from a structure that cools the drum motor 1800 by sucking external air through the front part of the cabinet 1010, in consideration of an air-flowing direction of the blower fan 1820.
  • a hole must be formed through the front part of the cabinet 1010, and wind must be produced in a direction in which the external air is sucked up through the hole.
  • the blower fan 1820 disclosed herein is for suppressing dew condensation occurring in the space between the cabinet 1010 and the drum 1030 rather than cooling the drum motor 1800. Therefore, the front of the blower fan 1820 must be blocked by the front part of the cabinet 1010 which is disposed to be spaced apart from the blower fan 1820. If a hole is formed through the front part of the cabinet 1010, wind produced by the blower fan 1820 may be blown out of the cabinet 1010 through the hole. As a result, the effect of preventing the dew condensation through convection may be reduced.
  • the rear cover 1014 may be disposed at the rearmost side of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 and define rear appearance of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000. In this sense, the rear cover 1014 may correspond to a rear wall of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 or a rear wall of the cabinet 1010. Meanwhile, the front part of the cabinet 1010 located opposite to the rear cover 1014 may be referred to as a front cover.
  • the rear cover 1014 may include a rear cover base portion 1014a, a rear protrusion portion 1014b, a connection portion 1014c, vent holes 1014d, an exhaust port 1014e, brackets 1014f, a water tank insertion port 1014g, and a protective cover coupling portion 1014h.
  • the rear cover base portion 1014a may have a flat plate shape.
  • the rear protrusion portion 1014b may protrude from the rear cover base portion 1014a toward the rear of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the rear protrusion portion 1014b may be located at a position facing the inlet duct 1210 to secure an installation region of the inlet duct 1210.
  • connection portion 1014c may extend from an edge of the rear protrusion portion 1014b toward the rear cover base portion 1014a, to connect the edge of the rear protrusion portion 1014b to the rear cover base portion 1014a.
  • the plurality of vent holes 1014d may be formed through one region of the rear protrusion portion 1014b.
  • the plurality of vent holes 1014d may be formed at a position facing the inlet duct 1210.
  • the plurality of vent holes 1014d may be open in an inclined direction.
  • the plurality of vent holes 1014d may induce air to be passively introduced into the space between the cabinet 1010 and the drum 1030 so that hot humid air is discharged to the outside of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000.
  • the exhaust port 1014e and the water tank insertion port 1014g may be formed on an upper part of the rear cover base portion 1014a.
  • the exhaust port 1014e and the water tank insertion port 1014g may be located at opposite sides to each other.
  • the exhaust port 1014e may be located at a right side
  • the water tank insertion port 1014g may be located at a left side.
  • the positions of the exhaust port 1014e and the water tank insertion port 1014g may be switched with each other. In this case, the positions of the water tank 1410 and the printed circuit board constituting the control unit 1600 must be switched with each other as well.
  • the exhaust port 1014e may be associated with an exhaust fan (not illustrated) for active discharge of air.
  • the brackets 1014f may be disposed on a circumference of the exhaust port 1014e for the active discharge of air, and the exhaust fan may be installed on the brackets 1014f.
  • the bracket 1014f may have a shape protruding from the circumference of the exhaust port 1014e toward the exhaust port 1014e.
  • the brackets 1014f may be provided on right and left sides of the exhaust ports 1014e, respectively.
  • the exhaust fan may be mounted to the brackets 1014f to face the exhaust port 1014e. Accordingly, the position of the exhaust fan may depend on the position of the exhaust port 1014e, and may be disposed at a left upper side or right upper side of the drum 1030.
  • the rear cover base portion 1014a may correspond to an inner rear wall of the cabinet 1010, and the exhaust fan may be understood to be mounted on the inner rear wall of the cabinet 1010.
  • the water tank insertion port 1014g may be formed to pass through end portions of the water tank 1410 and the water tank support frame 1430.
  • the end portion of the water tank 1410 refers to an opposite part of the water tank cover 1420.
  • the water tank 1410 that can be accommodated in the water tank support frame 1430 may have a limited size.
  • the length of the water tank 1410 may extend as long as the end portion of the water tank 1410 can pass through the water tank insertion port 1014g formed through the rear cover 1014.
  • the length of the water tank 1410 refers to the length of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 in a front and rear direction.
  • connection duct 1230 may be disposed in the second space II, and the evaporator 1110 and the condenser 1130 corresponding to the heat exchanger among the heat pump cycle devices 1100 may be disposed inside the connection duct 1230. Accordingly, the connection duct 1230 may be formed to enclose the heat exchanger, and connected to the drum 1030 to define the air circulation flow path between the heat exchanger and the drum 1030.
  • the base 1310 may provide a space for mounting components constituting the air circulation flow path and the heat exchanger.
  • the base 1310 may provide a plurality of mounting portions 1311, 1313, 1317, and 1318.
  • the mounting portions 1311, 1313, 1317, and 1318 refer to regions provided for installing various components of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • a partition wall 1312 may be formed at a boundary of each of the mounting portions 1311, 1313, 1317, and 1318, so that the respective mounting portions 1311, 1313, 1317, and 1318 can be partitioned.
  • the partition wall 1312 may protrude from a circumference of each of the mounting portions 1311, 1313, 1317, and 1318.
  • the partition wall 1312 may define a sidewall of each of the mounting portions 1311, 1313, 1317, and 1318.
  • the water collection part 1315 may have a bottom surface lower than a surrounding region on the base 1310 to collect condensate water.
  • Condensate water may be generated from air circulating in the drum 1030. After the air circulating in the drum 1030 exchanges heat with the heat exchanger 1110, 1130, the condensate water may be dropped down to the bottom of the heat exchanger mounting portion 1311.
  • a connection flow path portion 1316 may be formed between the heat exchanger mounting portion 1311 and the water collection part 1315.
  • connection flow path portion 1316 may refer to a configuration in which the partition wall 1312 between the heat exchanger mounting portion 1311 and the water collection part 1315 has a height substantially the same as or lower than that of the heat exchanger mounting portion 1311.
  • connection flow path portion 1316 may refer to a configuration having a tilt gradually decreasing in height from the heat exchanger mounting portion 1311 toward the water collection part 1315.
  • the heat exchanger mounting portion 1311 and the water collection part 1315 may be divided by the partition wall 1312, but a partition wall may not partially be formed in a region corresponding to the connection flow path portion 1316. Accordingly, the condensate water dropped into the heat exchanger mounting portion 1311 may be collected in the water collection part 1315 only by gravity.
  • the return hose 1454 has a predetermined tangential tilt to prevent condensate water from being accumulated therein.
  • having the predetermined tangential tilt means having a tangential tilt greater than zero (0) in an entire section with respect to the ground on which the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 is installed. Also, the entire section refers to a section between both ends of the return hose 1454.
  • the base 1310 may be provided with a water level sensor for detecting a water level of condensate water. If the surface the condensate water waves by the circulation fan 1710, it may act as a factor that interferes with the precise measurement of the water level sensor. In addition, the drainage of the water collection part 1315 may be controlled based on the water level of condensate water detected by the water level sensor, and the waving of the surface of the condensate water due to the introduction of the external air may act as a factor that interferes with the control of the drainage.
  • the trap 1350 may be formed by the base 1310, the cover 1340, and the ribs 1341, 1342, 1351, 1352.
  • the cover 1340 may include a water pump cover portion 1340b covering the water pump 1440, and a trap cover portion 1340a covering the trap 1350.
  • a hose connection portion 1343 may be formed in the trap cover portion 1340a.
  • An upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 may protrude toward the cover 1340 from the bottom surface 1353 of the trap 1350.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 may have an upper end spaced apart from the cover 1340. Accordingly, the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 may protrude from the bottom surface 1353 of the trap 1350 to a portion just before contacting the cover 1340.
  • the upper end of the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 may be open.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 and the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, 1342 may protrude from different circumferences of concentric circles.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 and the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, 1342 may be disposed to form concentric circles of different sizes.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 and the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, 1342 each may have a shape corresponding to a side surface of a cylinder.
  • One of the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 and the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, 1342 may surround the other.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 may surround the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, 1342 at a position spaced apart from the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, 1342, or vice versa.
  • the concentric circle does not mean a precise concentric circle in a mathematical sense. There may be some errors in consideration of deviations in a manufacturing process.
  • At least one of the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 and the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, 1342 may be provided in plurality.
  • At least one is a concept including one of the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 and the downwardly-protruding rib 1341,1342, and both of the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 and the downwardly-protruding rib 1341,1342.
  • FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate a configuration in which both the upwardly-protruding rib 1351, 1352 and the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, 1342 are provided in plurality.
  • the upwardly-protruding rib 1351 may be disposed around the downwardly-protruding rib 1341, and the another downwardly-protruding rib 1342 may be disposed around the upwardly-protruding rib 1351 again.
  • first downwardly-protruding rib 1341 one having a relatively small diameter
  • second downwardly-protruding rib 1342 one having a relatively large diameter
  • first upwardly-protruding rib 1351, the second upwardly-protruding rib 1352, the first downwardly-protruding rib 1341, and the second downwardly-protruding rib 1342 may have different sizes.
  • first upwardly-protruding rib 1351, the second upwardly-protruding rib 1352, the first downwardly-protruding rib 1341, and the second downwardly-protruding rib 1342 may form concentric circles having different sizes.
  • Arranging the first upwardly-protruding rib 1351, the second upwardly-protruding rib 1352, the first downwardly-protruding rib 1341, and the second downwardly-protruding rib 1342 in order of size, starting from one having the smallest size, the first downwardly-protruding rib. 1341, the first upwardly-protruding rib 1351, the second downwardly-protruding rib 1342, and the second upwardly-protruding rib 1352 may be arranged sequentially.
  • the first downwardly-protruding rib 1341 may be disposed at the innermost side, and the first upwardly-protruding rib 1351 may surround the first downwardly-protruding rib 1341.
  • the second downwardly-protruding rib 1342 may surround the first upwardly-protruding rib 1351.
  • the second upwardly-protruding rib 1352 may surround the second downwardly-protruding rib 1342.
  • a flow path having a concentric structure may be defined.
  • the flow path may have a cross-section in a zigzag shape in a vertical direction as illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 .
  • the trap 1350 may be provided with a stepped portion 1360 to secure its performance.
  • the stepped portion 1360 may protrude upward from a boundary between the bottom surface of the water collection part 1315 and the trap 1350.
  • the stepped portion 1360 may be formed in a manner that the upwardly-protruding rib 1352 disposed at the outermost side, of the upwardly-protruding ribs 1351 and 1352, protrudes higher than the bottom surface of the water collection part 1315.
  • the height of the stepped portion 1360 may affect the performance of the trap 1350.
  • an amount of condensate water gathered in the trap 1350 may increase more.
  • the amount and water level of condensate water gathered in the trap 1350 may be factors that determine the performance of the trap 1350. Accordingly, as the height of the stepped portion 1360 increases, the amount of condensate water gathered in the trap 1350 may increase and the performance of the trap 1350 may be improved accordingly.
  • the area of the flow path may be related to an inner diameter and length of one (e.g., 1341) that is disposed at the innermost side, among the upwardly-protruding ribs 1351 and 1352 and the downwardly-protruding ribs 1341 and 1342 of the trap 1350, and the area of the flow path at a second position must be larger than the area at a first position.
  • one e.g., 1341
  • the first position may correspond to a hollow portion of the first downwardly-protruding rib 1341.
  • the area at the first position may be calculated from a cross-sectional area of the hollow portion.
  • the second position may correspond to a position between the bottom surface 1353 of the trap 1350 and the lower end of the first downwardly-protruding rib 1341.
  • the area at the second position may be calculated by a formula for obtaining an area of a side surface of a virtual cylinder that the cross-section of the hollow portion is a bottom surface and a spacing between the bottom surface 1353 of the trap 1350 and the first downwardly-protruding rib 1341 is a height.
  • a surface corresponding to A1 is called a bottom surface (base side)
  • a radius of the bottom surface is r.
  • the base 1310 may include a breakage prevention rib 1370 for preventing breakage of the trap 1350.
  • the breakage prevention rib 1370 may protrude downward from the lower surface of the base 1310.
  • the lower surface of the base 1310 refers to means the outer bottom surface of the base 1310.
  • the breakage prevention rib 1370 may be formed to surround the trap 1350.
  • the breakage prevention rib 1370 may form a concentric circle with an outer circumferential surface of the trap 1350.
  • the breakage prevention rib 1370 may surround the trap 1350 at a position spaced apart from the trap 1350.
  • the breakage prevention rib 1370 may preferably be formed to surround the trap 1350, other than being formed only at one side of the trap 1350. That is, the breakage prevention rib 1370 may protect the trap 1350 from impact sources approaching from all directions of the trap 1350.
  • the water tank 1410 may be inserted into and drawn out of the cabinet 1010 through the water tank inlet/outlet port. The user may separate and couple the water tank 1410 from and to the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 using the water tank cover 1420.
  • the water tank insertion port 1014g may be formed through one surface of the rear cover 1410 to pass through end portions of the water tank 1410 and the water tank support frame 1430.
  • the end portion of the water tank 1410 may protrude from the outer side of the cabinet 1010 through the water tank insertion port 1014g.
  • the end portion of the water tank 1410 refers to a portion opposite to the water tank cover 1420.
  • the end portion of the water tank 1410 protruding from the outer side of the cabinet 1010 is referred to as a water tank extension portion 1411.
  • the length of the water tank 1410 may increase correspondingly.
  • the length of the water tank 1410 refers to the length of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 in the front and rear direction.
  • the water tank 1410 may be formed longer than a side cover of the cabinet 1010. With this structure, the size of the water tank 1410 may increase. That is, the capacity of the water tank 1410 may increase.
  • the end portion of the water tank support frame 1430 supporting the water tank 1410 may also protrude from the outer side of the cabinet 1010 through the water tank insertion port 1014g.
  • a frame extension portion 1436 may enclose the water tank extension portion 1411 outside the cabinet 1010.
  • the end portion of the water tank support frame 1430 protruding from the outer side of the cabinet 1010 is referred to as a frame extension portion 1436.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 may be formed of a material having higher strength than that of the water tank 1410. Accordingly, the water tank support frame 1430 may protect the water tank 1410 from an external impact or the like applied to the water tank 1410.
  • the water tank extension portion 1411 when the water tank extension portion 1411 excessively extends, user convenience may decrease when separating or coupling the water tank 1410 from or to the cabinet 1010.
  • the length D1 of the water tank 1410 if an entire length D1 of the water tank 1410 is 670 mm to 690 mm, the length D2 by which the water tank extension portion 1411 protrudes may be 55 mm to 60 mm.
  • the water tank extension portion 1411 may extend by a preset ratio to the entire length of the water tank 1410.
  • the ratio between the entire length D1 of the water tank 1410 and the length D2 of the water tank extension portion 1411 may preferably be 11:1 to 13:1.
  • the length of the water tank extension portion 1411 protruding from the rear surface of the cabinet 1010, that is, from the base portion 1014a of the rear cover 1014 may be substantially the same as the protruding length of the rear protrusion portion 1014b.
  • the rear surface (rear cover) of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may be disposed to face a wall. If the protruding length of the water tank extension portion 1411 is longer than the protruding length of the rear protrusion portion 1014b of the rear cover 1014, the water tank extension portion 1411 and the frame extension portion 1436 may hit the wall and be damaged.
  • the protruding lengths of the water tank extension portion 1411 and the frame extension portion 1436 may preferably be shorter than or equal to the protruding length of the rear protrusion portion 1014b.
  • the rear cover 1014 may include a cover extension portion formed to enclose the water tank.
  • the cover extension portion may extend rearward from an edge of the water tank insertion port 1014g.
  • the cover extension portion may be formed to enclose the protrusion portion of the water tank when the water tank 1410 is mounted to the water tank support frame 1040.
  • the frame extension portion of the water tank support frame 1040 may be omitted.
  • a rib portion 1435 may be formed on a lower surface 1432 of the water tank support frame 1430 such that the water tank 1410 is guided to be inserted or drawn out.
  • the rib portion 1435 may protrude from the lower surface 1432 of the water tank support frame 1430 and extend along the lengthwise direction of the water tank support frame 1430.
  • the rib portion 1435 may be formed thin to reduce a contact area with the water tank 1410.
  • the rib portion 1435 may be provided in plurality disposed to be spaced apart from each other.
  • the rib portions 1435 may extend in parallel in the direction that the water tank 1410 is inserted and drawn out.
  • the rib portions 1435 may reduce the contact area between the water tank 1410 and the water tank support frame 1430 during sliding of the water tank 1410. This may facilitate the user to separate or detach the water tank from the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • a guide groove corresponding to the rib portion 1435 may be provided on the lower surface of the water tank 1410.
  • the guide groove may be recessed in the lower surface of the water tank 1410 and extend in the lengthwise direction of the water tank 1410.
  • the guide groove may be provided in plurality to correspond to the plurality of rib portions 1435.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 may be coupled to an inner surface of an upper cover constituting the upper part of the cabinet 1010. Accordingly, an accommodation space for the water tank 1410 may be defined by the both side surfaces 1431 and the bottom surface of the water tank support frame 1430 and the inner surface of the upper cover.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 may extend in the lengthwise direction of the water tank 1410. A front end portion of the water tank support frame 1430 may be connected to the water tank inlet/outlet port. Accordingly, the inner space of the cabinet 1010 and the accommodation space of the water tank 1410 may be spatially separated from each other.
  • the accommodation space of the water tank 1410 may be connected to the outside since the water tank inlet/outlet port is provided at the front.
  • a sealing member may be disposed between the water tank support frame 1430 and the cabinet 1010 to maintain airtightness between the inner space of the cabinet 1010 and the accommodation space of the water tank 1410.
  • the bottom of the water tank support frame 1430 except for a portion connected to the return hose 1454 may have a blocked structure.
  • the condensate water transferred to the water tank 1410 by the water pump 1440 may temporarily be stored in the water tank 1410. However, when an amount of condensate water is larger than the capacity of the water tank 1410, the condensate water which has been introduced in the water tank 1410 may overflow to the water tank support frame 1430.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 may accommodate the condensate that overflows from the water tank 1410.
  • the lower surface 1432 of the water tank support frame 1430 may be stepped so that the condensate water overflowing from the water tank 1410 can be gathered. Since the inlet hole 1412 through which the condensate water flows in and out is formed on the rear side of the water tank 1410, the lower surface 1432 of the water tank support frame 1430 may be formed such that the rear side thereof is lower than the front side. In addition, the water tank support frame 1430 may be inclined downward at a predetermined inclination from the front to the rear.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 having the structure may prevent the condensate water from flowing out of the cabinet 101 through the water tank inlet/outlet port.
  • the user spills the condensate water into the water tank support frame 1430 while detaching the water tank 1430 filled with the condensate water from the cabinet 1010, the spilled condensate water may be prevented from flowing out of the cabinet 1010.
  • the condensate water may flow to the rear side where a discharge groove is provided.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may include a return hose 1454 along which the condensate water overflowing from the water tank 1410 is recovered into the base 1310.
  • An outlet hole 1434 through which the condensate water is discharged through the return hose 1454 may be formed through the lower surface 1432 of the water tank support frame 1430.
  • the outlet hole 1434 may be formed on the rear side of the water tank support frame 1430.
  • the return hose 1454 may be connected to the outlet hole 1434.
  • the water tank support frame 1430 may include a nozzle provided in the outlet hole 1434 to connect the return hose 1454 to the outlet hole 1434.
  • the return hose 1454 may be connected to a collection portion 1414 so that the condensate water overflowing into the water tank support frame 1430 can flow back to the collection portion. That is, one end of an outlet pipe may be coupled to the outlet hole, and another end may be connected to the collection portion.
  • the second hose 1453 may be formed in plurality, and the return hose 1454 may be connected to any one of the plurality of second hoses 1453.
  • the return hose 1454 may be connected to the second hose 1453 through a connector 1463.
  • the condensate water overflowing from the water tank 1410 may be recovered to the bottom of the mounting portion where the heat exchanger 1110, 1130 is disposed through the second hose 1453 via the return hose 1454.
  • the condensate water recovered to the bottom of the mounting portion where the heat exchanger 1110, 1130 is provided may be collected back into the collection portion 1414.
  • negative pressure may be produced in the air circulation flow path, in which the heat exchanger 1110, 1130 is provided, by the strong suction force of the circulation fan 1710 disposed at the downstream side of the heat exchanger 1110, 1130.
  • the negative pressure may be lower than atmospheric pressure outside the cabinet.
  • external air of the cabinet 1010 may be introduced into the air circulation flow path sequentially through the water tank inlet/outlet port, the accommodation space of the water tank 1410, the outlet hole 1434, the return hose 1454, and the second hose 1453. This air may cause a problem of lowering the efficiency of the heat exchange system.
  • the return hose 1454 may be provided with a trap portion 1454a for preventing the external air of the cabinet 1010 from flowing into the air circulation flow path.
  • the trap portion 1454a may be formed by bending at least a portion of the return hose 1454 to be concave downward. That is, the trap portion 1454a may have a U-like shape.
  • the condensate water may be gathered in the trap portion 1454a.
  • the condensate water gathered in the trap portion 1454a may serve to prevent the external air of the cabinet 1010 from flowing into the air circulation flow path.
  • the another end of the return hose 1454 may be connected to the second hose 1453 disposed on an upper surface of the mounting portion where the heat exchanger 1110, 1130 is mounted. That is, the another end of the return hose 1454 may be connected to the second hose 1453 disposed on the upper surfaces of the front base cover 1321 and the rear base cover 1322.
  • the right mounting portion of the base 1310 may be lower in height than the lower left mounting portion where the heat exchanger 1110, 1130 is provided. Accordingly, since the return hose 1454 extends downward from the water tank support frame 1430 positioned at the upper right side, the return hose 1454 may extend to a position lower than the upper surfaces of the front base cover 1321 and the rear base cover 1322.
  • the condensate water may always be gathered in the trap portion 1454a.
  • the return hose 1454 has the trap portion 1454a, external air may continuously flow into the air circulation flow path if the condensate water does not overflow from the water tank 1410.
  • control unit 1600 may control the condensate water collected in the collection portion 1414 to be transferred to the trap portion 1454a.
  • the control unit 1600 may operate the water pump 1440 to transfer the condensate water collected in the collection portion 1414 through a discharge hose 1451.
  • the control unit 1600 may control a valve of the control valve 1470 connected to the first hose 1452 to be closed such that the transferred condensate water is not delivered to the water tank 1410 and control a valve connected to the second hose 1453 to be open. Under the control of the control unit 1600, the condensate water may be kept gathered in the trap portion 1454a.
  • the present disclosure may include a heat pump system including the evaporator 1110, the compressor 1120, the condenser 1130, and the like.
  • the heat pump system may include a refrigerant circulation flow path defined by connecting the evaporator 1110, the compressor 1120, and the condenser 1130 so that the refrigerant flows therealong.
  • the refrigerant circulation flow path may be defined by a refrigerant pipe through which those components of the heat pump system are connected.
  • the refrigerant may circulate in the heat pump system along the refrigerant circulation flow path.
  • the refrigerant compressed by the compressor may flow into the condenser 1130 in a state of high temperature and high pressure.
  • the refrigerant pipe may be made of a metal material to withstand the refrigerant of the high temperature and the high pressure.
  • the refrigerant pipe connecting the compressor and the condenser 1130 is referred to as the discharge pipe 1121.
  • the return hose 1454 can be disposed adjacent to the discharge pipe 1121, so as to form the trap portion 1454a.
  • the holder 1122 is not limited to the shape, and various implementations of fixing the return hose 1454 to be adjacent to the discharge pipe 1121 may be included in the present disclosure.
  • the input unit 310 may receive a control command related to an operation of the clothes treatment apparatus from a user.
  • the input unit 310 may be configured as a plurality of buttons or may be configured as a touch screen.
  • the input unit 310 may be configured as a control panel through which the user may select an operation mode of the clothes treatment apparatus or apply an input related to an execution of the selected operation mode.
  • the output unit 320 may output information related to the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • the output unit 320 may include at least one display.
  • the output unit 320 may be a touch screen integrally formed with the input unit 310.
  • the communication unit 330 may communicate with other electronic devices in order to establish an Internet of Things (IOT) environment.
  • IOT Internet of Things
  • the sensing unit 340 may include at least one of a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor, a visual sensor (camera sensor), and a temperature sensor.
  • the current sensor of the sensing unit 340 may detect a current flowing through a point of a control circuit of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • the temperature sensor of the sensing unit 340 may detect an internal temperature of the drum.
  • the sensing unit 340 may include at least one of various types of sensors, and the types of sensors included in the clothes treatment apparatus may not be limited.
  • the number or installation location of each sensor may be variously designed according to purposes.
  • the inverter 350 may include a plurality of inverter switches, and be configured to convert smoothed DC power Vdc into three-phase AC power va, vb, vc having a predetermined frequency by a switching-on/off operation of the switches and output the three-phase AC power va, vb, vc to a motor.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may include a plurality of inverters 351, 352, and 353, and the inverters 351, 352, and 353 may supply power to a plurality of motors 361, 362, and 363, respectively.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus includes the three inverters 351, 352, 353, and the inverters supply power to the three motors 361, 362, 363, respectively, but the number of inverters and motors may not be limited to the implementation.
  • the first inverter 351 may supply power to the first motor 361 rotating a drum 301
  • the second inverter 352 may supply power to the second motor 362 rotating a blower fan 302
  • the third inverter 353 may supply power to the third motor 363 operating a compressor of a heat pump 303.
  • a rotation shaft of the first motor 361 and a rotation shaft of the drum 301 may be connected to each other by a belt (not illustrated), and the first motor 361 may transmit a rotational force to the drum 301 through the belt.
  • the motor 360 may be a BLDC motor that can perform speed control based on a speed command value, or may be a constant speed motor that does not perform speed control.
  • the first motor for rotating the drum and the third motor for operating the compressor may be configured as the BLDC motors
  • the second motor for rotating the blower fan may be configured as the constant speed motor.
  • Each of the inverters 351, 352, and 353 may include upper arm switches Sa, Sb and Sc and lower arm switches S'a, S'b and S'c which are connected in series as pairs, and thus totally three pairs of upper and lower arm switches Sa & S'a, Sb & S'b, and Sc & S'c may be connected in parallel.
  • a diode may be connected in reverse-parallel to each switch Sa, S'a, Sb, S'b, Sc, S'c.
  • first upper arm switch Sa and the first lower arm switch S'a may implement a first phase.
  • the second upper arm switch Sb and the second lower arm switch S'b may implement a second phase.
  • the third upper arm switch Sc and the third lower arm switch S'c may implement a third phase.
  • the inverter 350 may have a shunt resistor corresponding to at least one of the first to third phases.
  • a first shunt resistor may be connected to one end of the first lower arm switch S'a of the first switch pair (Sa, S'a).
  • a second shunt resistor may be connected to one end of the second lower arm switch S'b, and a third shunt resistor may be connected to one end of the third lower arm switch S'c.
  • the first to third shunt resistors are not essential components, and only some of the three shunt resistors may be installed if necessary.
  • the inverter 350 may be connected to a common shunt resistor that is commonly connected to the first to third phases.
  • each of the switches in the inverters 351, 352, and 353 may be switched on and off based on an inverter switching control signal generated by the control unit 380. Accordingly, the three-phase AC power having a predetermined frequency may be output to the motor 360.
  • the control unit 380 may control the switching operations of the inverters 351, 352, and 353 in a sensorless manner. Specifically, the control unit 380 may control the switching operation of the inverter 350 by using a motor phase current detected by the current sensor of the sensing unit 340.
  • the control unit 380 may output an inverter switching control signal to the inverters 351, 352, 353 in order to control the switching operations of the inverters 351, 352, 353.
  • the inverter switching control signal may be a pulse width modulation (PWM) switching control signal.
  • the clothes treatment apparatus may include a plurality of inverters.
  • FIG. 15A it is shown that three motors 360 and three inverter 350 are provided for driving or operating the drum 301, the blower fan 302, and the compressor of the heat pump 303, respectively, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
  • the drum 301 and the blower fan 302 are operated by one motor, and the compressor of the heat pump 303 is operated by another motor, two motors and two inverters may be used.
  • the present disclosure proposes a clothes treatment apparatus including the converter 370.
  • the converter 370 may convert commercial AC power into DC power and output it.
  • the converter 370 may convert single-phase AC power or three-phase AC power to DC power and output it.
  • An internal structure of the converter 370 may vary depending on a type of commercial AC power source.
  • the converter 370 may be configured as a diode or the like without a switching element, and may perform a rectification operation without a separate switching operation.
  • diodes may be used in a bridge configuration.
  • six diodes may be used in a bridge configuration.
  • the converter 370 may be a half-bridge type converter in which two switching elements and four diodes are connected. In the case of a three-phase AC power source, six switching elements and six diodes may be used.
  • the valve unit 391 may be disposed at a point of a flow path provided in the clothes treatment apparatus, to control the flow along the flow path.
  • the pump unit 392 may provide a driving force for supplying gas or liquid to the flow path.
  • the control unit 380 may control components included in the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • control unit 380 may generate at least one of a power command value, a current command value, a voltage command value, and a speed command value corresponding to the motor.
  • control unit 380 may generate at least one of a q-axis current command value and a d-axis current command value.
  • control unit 380 may convert power to a phase current of a stationary coordinate system or a phase current of a rotating coordinate system based on a phase current sensed by the current sensor.
  • the control unit 380 may generate a voltage command value applied to the motor by using the converted phase current and the current command value.
  • control unit 380 may generate an inverter switching control signal according to the PWM method.
  • control unit 380 may control an operation of at least one of the drum, the blower fan, and the heat pump based on a control command input through the input unit 310.
  • control unit 380 may control an output of the heat pump to adjust an internal temperature of the drum based on a user input applied to the input unit 310.
  • the reactor L may be disposed between a commercial AC power source Vin and the converter 370 to perform a power factor correction or a boosting operation.
  • the reactor L may also perform a function of limiting a harmonic current due to fast switching of the converter 370.
  • the converter 370 may convert AC power Vin, which has been applied from the commercial AC power source 405 via the reactor L, into DC power and output the DC power.
  • the commercial AC power source Vin is shown as a single-phase AC power source in the drawing, it may alternatively be a three-phase AC power source.
  • the smoothing capacitor Vdc may smooth input power and store it.
  • one element is illustrated as the smoothing capacitor Vdc, but a plurality of smoothing capacitors may alternatively be provided to ensure element stability.
  • both ends of the smoothing capacitor Vdc may be referred to as DC-links or DC-link ends since DC power is stored.
  • the control unit 380 may detect an input current is which is input from the commercial AC power source using the shunt resistor installed in the converter 370. In addition, the control unit 380 may detect a phase current of the motor by using the shunt resistor Rin installed in the inverter 350.
  • FIGS. 16A and 16B are views related to the base of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • the base illustrated in FIG. 16A may be installed on the lower surface of the cabinet 1010 and provide an installation place for stably supporting the heat pump.
  • the base may constitute a part of a flow path through which heated air circulates.
  • a lint filter mounting portion 112 may be formed on one side of the cabinet 1010, and a circulation flow path guide portion 131a may be disposed to communicate with the lint filter mounting portion 112.
  • the circulation flow path guide portion 131a may communicate with the lint filter mounting portion 112 to guide hot air exhausted from the drum toward the evaporator of the heat pump. To this end, the circulation flow path guide portion 131a may be configured as a plurality of guide vanes for guiding introduced air toward the evaporator.
  • the hot air guided by the circulation flow path guide portion 131a may be introduced into a circulation flow path 116.
  • the circulation flow path 116 may be defined as a cover plate 140 covers a top of a space that is defined by the bottom surface of the base and partition walls (not shown) formed on the base. That is, the circulation flow path 116 may be defined by the cover plate 140 and the partition walls of the base. Air passing through the thusly-defined circulation flow path 116 may pass through the evaporator and the condenser in sequence, and then be introduced into a back duct through a back duct connection portion 133 formed on the rear surface of the base.
  • condensate water may be collected in a portion, on which an evaporator and a condenser are disposed, of the bottom surface of the base. That is, the condensate water generated by the evaporator 121 in a condensing manner may be primarily collected in the portion, on which the evaporator 121 is disposed, of the bottom surface of the base.
  • the collected condensate water may be introduced into a condensate water storage part 134 located adjacent to a compressor 123.
  • a condensate water collection part 132 and the condensate water storage part 134 may be partitioned by a partition wall, and may communicate with each other through a through hole formed at the partition wall.
  • the condensate water may be introduced into the condensate water storage part 134 through the through hole so as to be stored in the condensate water storage part 134.
  • the condensate water stored in the condensate water storage part 134 may be supplied to a control valve 160 installed on an upper portion of the cover plate 140 by a pump 150.
  • condensate water supplied through a water supply pipe 180 connected between an outlet port of the pump 150 and an inlet port 161 of the control valve 160 may be discharged through a plurality of water supply ports 181, 182, 183 and a drain port 184 provided in the control valve 160.
  • the inlet port 161 may be disposed at a valve case 165 in which a plate member 167 is provided, and the water supply ports and the drain port may be formed at a port portion 168 coupled to the valve case 165.
  • the plate member 167 may be mounted to be rotatable by a motor 166 installed on one end portion of the valve case 165, and have a cutout portion 167a.
  • the water supply ports and the drain port may be arranged in the port portion 168 radially at 90° intervals. Accordingly, a flow path of the condensate water supplied through the inlet port 161 may be determined depending on the position of the cutout portion 167a. In the state shown in FIG. 20 , the condensate water may be discharged to the water supply port 162, and the position of the cutout portion 167a may be controlled by a control unit (not illustrated).
  • each of the injection pipes 170 may have a shape with a central portion bent and include a coupling portion 171 integrally extending to both sides thereof.
  • the coupling portion 171 may have a plate-like shape extending in one direction, and be provided with coupling holes 171a formed on portions near both ends thereof such that the injection pipe 170 is coupled with the cover plate 140 by bolts.
  • An outlet port 172 of the injection pipe 170 may penetrate through the cover plate 140 to protrude to a lower surface of the cover plate 140.
  • a diffuser 142 that defines a flow path of condensate water discharged from the outlet port 172 of the injection pipe 170 may be positioned on the lower surface of the cover plate 140.
  • the diffuser 142 may be integrally formed with the cover plate 140 as illustrated, or may be separately manufactured to be fixed to the lower surface of the cover plate 140.
  • a channel 143 as a flow path through which the injected condensate water flows may be formed in the diffuser 142, and a width of the channel 143 may increase toward an outlet 144.
  • the outlet 144 of the channel 143 may be bent downward to face the front of the evaporator 121. Accordingly, the flow of the condensate water discharged through the injection pipe 170 may be made stable while the condensate water flows along the channel 143 of the diffuser 142.
  • the condensate water may then drop onto a front part of the evaporator along the shape of the outlet 144. That is, immediately after the condensate water is discharged from the injection pipe, the condensate water may flow fast due to pressure of the pump so as to be scattered more due to collision with a wall surface.
  • the condensate water may be supplied to the evaporator after stabilizing the flow of the condensate water by lowering the flow rate while the condensate water is flowing along the diffuser, thereby utilizing the supplied condensate water as much as possible.
  • the channel of the diffuser must secure a sufficient length, but such sufficient length may not be secured in some cases.
  • a guide plate 145 disposed to be spaced apart from the outlet 144 may be installed on the lower surface of the cover plate 140. The guide plate 145 may be inclined downward to face the front surface of the evaporator 121. Accordingly, the condensate water discharged through the outlet 144 may be discharged to the front surface of the evaporator by the guide plate 145 even if some of the condensate water are scattered.
  • a range that the condensate water discharged by each of the diffusers reaches may be set to be smaller than a total area of the evaporator. Therefore, condensate water injected by one diffuser may reach only a part of the evaporator rather than the entire evaporator. However, regions that condensate water injected by three diffusers reaches may be different from one another, as illustrated. One diffuser may not clean the entire region of the evaporator. However, the entire region of the evaporator can be cleaned by adding the ranges that the condensate water injected through the respective diffusers reaches.
  • the entire region of the evaporator does not necessarily mean all regions of the front surface of the evaporator, and it should be considered to include even a region in which lint particles contained in hot air may accumulate.
  • the condensate water storage unit when more than an appropriate amount of condensate water is stored in the condensate water storage unit, it must be drained to maintain an appropriate water level. Therefore, when a detection device such as a water level sensor (not illustrated) detects that the amount of condensate water in the condensate water storage portion is more than an appropriate amount, the condensate water must be drained through the drain port 164 of the control valve 160 using the pump 150. The condensate water drained in this way may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet through the drain pipe 184, so that the amount of condensate water in the condensate water storage portion can be adjusted.
  • a detection device such as a water level sensor (not illustrated) detects that the amount of condensate water in the condensate water storage portion is more than an appropriate amount
  • the condensate water must be drained through the drain port 164 of the control valve 160 using the pump 150.
  • the water supply port or the drain port facing the cutout portion may communicate with the inlet port, so that the condensate water is discharged from the control valve through the corresponding port.
  • the discharged condensate water may be injected on the surface of the evaporator through the injection pipe and the diffuser, and a part of the evaporator located within an injection range of the condensate water may be cleaned by the injected condensate water. Therefore, when the condensate water is sequentially injected through the respective diffusers, the surface of the heat exchanger may also be cleaned sequentially, that is, with a time difference.
  • the number of injection pipes for injecting condensate water simultaneously may vary depending on the number of cutout portions formed through the plate member. That is, when there are three cutout portions, injection may be carried out through two diffusers at the same time.
  • the number of cutout portions may be arbitrarily set according to the capacity of the pump and the use of the dryer.
  • an external water supply source such as a water supply service may also be considered. That is, an external water supply source may be connected to an additional inlet port further provided in the control valve or to an additional water supply pipe branched from the water supply pipe connected to the inlet port, to wash or clean the evaporator using water supplied from the external water supply source.
  • cleaning nozzles may be used.
  • control valve 160 may also be defined as a valve unit.
  • control valve 160 may include a plurality of condensate water ports 162, 163, 164, and 165.
  • control valve 160 may include a first port 165 connected to the outside of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • the control unit 380 may control the control valve 160 to open the first port 165 in order to perform a drain operation of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • the control valve 160 may further include a second port 163, a third port 164 and a fourth port 162 that are disposed to inject water toward the heat pump.
  • each of the second to fourth ports may be configured so that water is injected to a part of the heat pump.
  • water injected from the second port 163 may come in contact with (seated on) a first portion of the outer surface of the evaporator of the heat pump.
  • water injected from the third port 164 may come in contact with a second portion of the outer surface of the evaporator. The first portion and the second portion may be different from each other.
  • the control unit 380 may control a motor provided in the control valve 160 to rotate the plate member 167 provided in the control valve 160.
  • the motor provided in the control valve 160 may be configured separately from the first to third motors corresponding to the first to third inverters.
  • an operating state of the control valve 160 may be defined as a first state.
  • the operating state of the control valve 160 may be defined as a second state.
  • the operating state of the control valve 160 may be defined as a third state.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may include a main body defining an outer appearance, a drum 301 rotatably installed inside the main body and accommodating an object (or objects) to be dried, a compressor 1120 of a heat pump 303 for compressing refrigerant such that moisture-removed air circulates to the drum via a condenser and an evaporator when the moisture is removed from heated air absorbed from the object to be dried, a blower fan 302 for generating a flow of the heated air or the moisture-removed air, a driving unit having a plurality of motors for providing driving force to the drum 301, the blower fan 302, and the compressor 1120, a cleaning unit for injecting (or spraying) condensate water generated in the evaporator onto a surface of the evaporator to remove foreign substances that accumulate on the surface of the evaporator while the heated air passes through the evaporator, a valve unit having a plurality of condensate water ports to define a part of paths
  • control unit 380 may control an operation of a control valve 160 (see FIG. 20 ) based on the operating state of the cleaning unit.
  • control unit 380 may control the operation of the cleaning unit so that external air is not introduced.
  • control unit 380 may stop an operation of a pump of the cleaning unit while the first port is open.
  • control unit 380 may adjust an output of the pump so that negative pressure is not generated in the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • control unit 380 may stop the pump of the cleaning unit for a preset period.
  • control unit 380 may monitor an operation of a motor connected to the plate member 167, and determine to which of first to fourth postures a current posture of the plate member 167 corresponds based on a monitoring result. Also, the control unit 380 may determine which port has been open among the first to fourth ports, based on the posture of the plate member 167.
  • control unit 380 may operate the motor of the control valve to switch the state of the control valve 160 from the open state of the fourth port 162 to the open state of the first port 162.
  • the control unit 380 can no longer reversely rotate the plate member of the control valve in the fourth state.
  • the partition wall may apply an external force to the plate member to prevent the plate member of the control valve in the first state from rotating forward any more.
  • control unit 380 may determine whether a pump operation signal is generated (S1301).
  • control unit 380 may generate a pump operation signal when it is determined that a drain operation of the clothes treatment apparatus is required.
  • control unit 380 may generate a pump operation signal when it is determined that an internal cleaning operation of the clothes treatment apparatus is required.
  • control unit 380 may rotate the plate member 167 to be switched from the fourth posture to the first posture (S1302).
  • the control unit 380 may determine whether the posture of the plate member has entered the first posture. When the posture of the plate member has entered the first posture, the control unit 380 may stop the operation of the pump (S1304).
  • the pump when a cleaning operation for the heat pump is performed, the pump may be operated according to an operating state of a valve, thereby preventing an introduction of external air into a circulation flow path connected to the valve or the pump.
  • drainage and cleaning operations may be carried out in consideration of whether the valve unit is connected to the outside of the clothes treatment apparatus, thereby preventing a failure of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • This implementation of the clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may be an implementation related to a method of controlling an operation (driving) of a blower fan or a drying fan during a process of performing a cleaning operation using the aforementioned control valve.
  • the control unit 380 may operate a fan at a first rotational speed (rpm) (S901).
  • the fan driven by the control unit 380 may be a blower fan for introducing heated air into the drum, or a drying fan for drying the inside of the cabinet.
  • control unit 380 may operate the control valve 160 and the pump to start a cleaning mode for cleaning the heat pump of the clothes treatment apparatus (S902).
  • control unit 380 may start a cleaning mode for cleaning the heat pump of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • control unit 380 may change the RPM of the fan to a second RPM (S903).
  • the second RPM may preferably be set to be slower than the first RPM.
  • control unit 380 may determine whether the cleaning mode has been terminated. When it is determined that the cleaning mode has been terminated (S904), the control unit 380 may restore the RPM of the fan to the first RPM (S905).
  • the capacity of the drum may increase and an output of the blower fan may increase, which may result in an increase in the influence of the wind on the cleaning water. Therefore, by introducing the method of controlling the RPM of the fan, which is applied during the cleaning mode, the cleaning water can be accurately settled on an object to be cleaned.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus may include a cleaning unit for injecting (or spraying) condensate water generated in an evaporator onto a surface of the evaporator to remove foreign substances accumulating on the surface of the evaporator while heated air passes through the evaporator, and a control unit for controlling an operation of the cleaning unit and changing a rotational speed (RPM) of a blower fan based on the operation of the cleaning unit.
  • a cleaning unit for injecting (or spraying) condensate water generated in an evaporator onto a surface of the evaporator to remove foreign substances accumulating on the surface of the evaporator while heated air passes through the evaporator
  • RPM rotational speed
  • the control unit 380 may control the second inverter and the second motor to reduce the RPM of the blower fan when the condensate water is injected from the cleaning nozzle by operating the pump.
  • control unit 380 may control the second motor corresponding to the blower fan so that the RPM of the blower fan is restored to a speed before the pump is operated when the operation of the pump for injecting the condensate water is terminated.
  • the valve unit may include a valve case, a plurality of condensate water ports protruding from the valve case to set flow paths of the condensate water, a plate member rotatably disposed inside the valve case to block at least some of the plurality of condensate water ports, and a motor for rotating the plate member.
  • the control unit 380 may control the blower fan 302 to be operated after the rotation of the plate member is completed. Similarly, the control unit 380 may variably set an operation time point of the drying fan such that the operation of the drying fan is started after the rotation of the plate member is completed.
  • any one of the plurality of condensate water ports may be connected to the outside of the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • the blower fan When the blower fan is operated while the condensate water port connected to the outside is open, negative pressure may be generated inside the clothes treatment apparatus and external air may be introduced, thereby causing a failure of the drain pump.
  • control unit 380 may control the motor of the valve unit such that the plate member is switched from a first state in which one condensate water port connected to the outside is open among the plurality of condensate water ports into a second state in which another one of the plurality of condensate water ports is open.
  • the control unit 380 may control the blower fan to be operated.
  • control unit 380 may set start point of operating the blower fan based on a rotation angle of the plate member. That is, the control unit 380 may determine which one of the plurality of condensate water ports has been opened based on an angle by which the plate member has been rotated from its initial posture or the reference posture. In addition, when the rotation angle of the plate member enters a predetermined range, the control unit 380 may control the second motor to operate the blower fan.
  • control unit 380 may stop the operation of the blower fan before the condensate water is drained to the outside by the operation of the pump.
  • control unit 380 may determine whether the plate member is moving by detecting an output of the motor moving the plate member (S1003).
  • the fan may be a blower fan or a drying fan for drying the inside of the cabinet.
  • control unit 380 may stand by without operating the fan according to whether the plate member is moving (S1004) or may start the operation of the fan after the movement of the plate member is terminated (S1005).
  • control unit 380 may prevent the fan from being operated while the plate member is moving.
  • FIG. 28 the operation of the controller 380 when a drain signal is generated during the operation of the fan (S1101) will be described.
  • control unit 380 may rotate the plate member to open the drain hole or the drain flow path (S1103).
  • the rotational speed of the fan may be adjusted, so as to increase a cleaning effect for the heat pump, prevent water overflow due to introduction of air into the clothes treatment apparatus, and also prevent the phenomenon that water is drawn to one side in the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • a clothes treatment apparatus 1000 may include a main body defining an outer appearance, a drum 301 rotatably installed inside the main body and accommodating an object (or objects) to be dried, a compressor 1120 of a heat pump 303 for compressing refrigerant such that moisture-removed air circulates to the drum 301 via a condenser and an evaporator when the moisture is removed from heated air absorbed from the object to be dried, a blower fan 302 for generating a flow of the heated air or the moisture-removed air, a driving unit having a plurality of motors for providing driving force to the drum 301, the blower fan 302, and the compressor 1120, a condensate water storage unit for storing condensate water generated in the evaporator, a water level sensor for detecting a water level of the condensate water storage unit, and a control unit 380 for determining whether the water level of the condensate water storage unit has reached a full water level based on an output
  • control unit 380 may generate a signal for starting the cleaning operation of the cleaning unit.
  • control unit 380 may detect the output of the water level sensor every preset period (S402).
  • the control unit 380 may generate error information corresponding to the cleaning operation based on the output of the water level sensor (S403). When the error information is generated, the control unit 380 of the related art clothes treatment apparatus may stop the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus (S404).
  • the present disclosure proposes a control method for a clothes treatment apparatus for verifying error information related to a water level sensor and transmitting the error information to a user.
  • control unit of the clothes treatment apparatus may perform a first monitoring process of determining whether the water level of the condensate water storage unit reaches the full water level based on the output of the water level sensor that detects the water level of the condensate water storage unit.
  • control unit may perform a second monitoring process of redetecting the water level of the condensate water storage unit using the water level sensor in a state in which the compressor is stopped.
  • the control unit may verify the result of the first monitoring process by undergoing the second monitoring process.
  • FIG. 30 illustrates an implementation related to the control method for the clothes treatment apparatus.
  • control unit 380 may determine that the drain operation for the condensate water storage unit has not been normally performed.
  • the control unit 380 may generate the error information when it is determined that the drain operation for the condensate water storage unit has not been normally performed.
  • control unit 380 may determine that the condensate water storage unit is at the full water level.
  • the control unit 380 may generate the error information when it is determined that the condensate water storage unit is at the full water level after the drain operation is performed.
  • the control unit 380 may determine that the condensate water storage unit is at the full water level.
  • the water level sensor disclosed in the present disclosure may be designed to output a lower value as the water level increases more.
  • the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the method of determining the full water level may variously change depending on the design method of the water level sensor.
  • control unit 380 may stop the operation of the compressor based on the number of times the error information is generated. In one example, the control unit 380 may stop the operation of the compressor when error information is generated four times using the output of the water level sensor.
  • control unit 380 may operate the drain pump for a preset second period (S502).
  • control unit 380 may operate the drain pump during the second period when a preset first period elapses after the compressor is stopped.
  • the control unit 380 may operate the drain pump at a constant speed during the second period, or may operate it according to a predetermined pattern.
  • the first period may be set to be longer than the second period.
  • the first period may be set to 60 seconds
  • the second period may be set to 30 seconds.
  • the control unit 380 may monitor the water level sensor for a preset third period after the operation of the drain pump is terminated, and control the operation of the compressor based on the monitoring result.
  • the control unit 380 may determine whether the water level of the condensate water storage unit exceeds a preset limit water level based on the output of the water level sensor within the third period (S503). That is, the control unit 380 may detect whether the water level of the condensate water storage unit reaches the full water level during the third period after the operation of the drain pump is terminated.
  • control unit 380 may stop the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus when the output of the water level sensor exceeds the preset limit value within the third period (S504).
  • control unit 380 may maintain the compressor in a stopped state and terminate the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus when the water level of the condensate water storage unit reaches the full water level within the third period after the operation of the drain pump is terminated.
  • control unit 380 may calculate the number of times that the output of the water level sensor exceeds the limit value during the third period. When the calculated number of times exceeds a preset limit number of times, the control unit 380 may maintain the compressor in the stopped state and terminate the operation of the clothes treatment apparatus. In this case, the control unit 380 may set the third period to 60 seconds and set the limit number of times to 10 times.
  • control unit 380 may restart the operation of the compressor (S505).
  • control unit 380 may store information related to a rotational frequency at the time when the operation of the compressor is stopped. That is, the control unit 380 may memorize the rotational frequency of the compressor before stopping the operation of the compressor by the first monitoring process.
  • control unit 380 may detect the output of the water level sensor every preset monitoring period, and generate error information if the detected output of the water level sensor is not included in a preset range.
  • control unit 380 may control the compressor to be stopped, the buzzer to generate a notification sound, and the output unit to blink the first icon 601.
  • control unit 380 may control the output unit to deactivate the first icon 601.
  • the implementations of the clothes treatment apparatus and the control method thereof as described above may be embodied independently or in combination of two or more, and may also be embodied as a part or combination of configurations or steps included in each implementation or embodied in combination of implementations.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung, die aufweist:
    eine Trommel (1030), die konfiguriert ist, ein zu behandelndes Objekt aufzunehmen;
    einen Luftumwälzungsströmungsweg, der mit einer vorderen Öffnung und einer hinteren Öffnung der Trommel (1030) verbunden ist, um einen Weg zu definieren, durch den Luft, die von der vorderen Öffnung der Trommel (1030) abgegeben wird, über einen Wärmetauscher (1110, 1130) in die hintere Öffnung der Trommel (1030) eingeleitet wird;
    eine Basis (1310), die unter der Trommel (1030) angeordnet ist und einen Raum für die Montage von Komponenten definiert, die den Luftumwälzungsströmungsweg und den Wärmetauscher (1110, 1130) bilden;
    ein Umwälzgebläse (1710), das in Bezug auf einem Luftstrom im Luftumwälzungsströmungsweg auf einer stromabwärts gelegenen Seite des Wärmetauschers (1110, 1130) angeordnet ist und konfiguriert ist, eine Saugkraft zu erzeugen, um Luft in dem Luftumwälzungsströmungsweg anzusaugen und die Luft der Trommel (1030) zuzuführen;
    einen Wassersammelteil (1315) mit einer Bodenfläche, die niedriger als ein umgebender Bereich auf der Basis (1310) ist, um Kondenswasser zu sammeln, das von der in der Trommel (1030) zirkulierenden Luft erzeugt wird;
    eine Abdeckung (1340), die so konfiguriert ist, dass sie das Wassersammelteil (1315) abdeckt, und
    ein Kondensatableiter (1350), der im Wassersammelteil (1315) ausgebildet ist, um zu verhindern, dass Außenluft aufgrund der Saugkraft des Umwälzgebläses (1710) über den Wassersammelteil (1315) in den Luftumwälzungsströmungsweg eingeleitet wird, und der eine Bodenfläche aufweist, die niedriger ist als ein umgebender Bereich des Wassersammelteils (1315), so dass das Kondenswasser darin gesammelt wird,
    wobei der Kondensatableiter (1350) aufweist:
    eine nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351, 1352), die von der Bodenfläche des Kondensatableiters (1350) zur Abdeckung (1340) vorsteht und ein von der Abdeckung (1340) beabstandetes oberes Ende aufweist; und
    eine nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1341, 1342), die von der Abdeckung (1340) zur Bodenfläche des Kondensatableiters vorsteht und ein unteres Ende aufweist, das von der Bodenfläche des Kondensatableiters (1350) beabstandet ist;
    wobei die nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351, 1352) und die nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1341, 1342) eine Form aufweisen, die einer Seitenfläche eines Zylinders entspricht, und so angeordnet sind, dass sie konzentrische Kreise mit unterschiedlichen Größen bilden, und
    wobei die nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351, 1352) und die nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1341, 1342) alle mehrfach vorgesehen sind und abwechselnd entlang einer Richtung weg von der Mitte der konzentrischen Kreise angeordnet sind.
  2. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei eine der nach oben vorstehenden Rippen (1351, 1352) und der nach unten vorstehenden Rippen (1341, 1342) eine andere umgibt.
  3. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351, 1352) so vorsteht, dass sie die nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1341, 1342) umgibt,
    wobei ein im Kondensatableiter (1350) definierter Strömungsweg so konfiguriert ist, dass eine Fläche davon an einer zweiten Position größer ist als eine Fläche an einer ersten Position,
    wobei die erste Position einem hohlen Abschnitt der nach unten vorstehenden Rippe (1341, 1342) entspricht und die Fläche des Strömungswegs an der ersten Position als Querschnittsfläche des hohlen Abschnitts berechnet wird, und
    wobei die zweite Position einer Position zwischen der Bodenfläche des Kondensatableiters (1350) und dem unteren Ende der nach unten vorstehenden Rippe (1341, 1342) entspricht und die Fläche an der zweiten Position als eine Fläche einer Seitenfläche eines virtuellen Zylinders berechnet wird, so dass ein Querschnitt des hohlen Abschnitts eine Bodenseite ist und ein Abstand zwischen der Bodenfläche des Kondensatableiters (1350) und der nach unten vorstehenden Rippe (1341, 1342) eine Höhe ist.
  4. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351, 1352) aufweist:
    eine erste nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351); und
    eine zweite nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1352) mit einem größeren Durchmesser als die erste nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351),
    wobei die nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1341, 1342) aufweist:
    eine erste nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1341) mit einem kleineren Durchmesser als die erste nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351); und
    eine zweite nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1342) mit einem Durchmesser, der größer als der der ersten nach oben vorstehenden Rippe (1351) und kleiner als der der zweiten nach oben vorstehenden Rippe (1352) ist, und
    wobei die erste nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351) so angeordnet ist, dass sie die erste nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1341) umgibt, die zweite nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1342) so angeordnet ist, dass sie die erste nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1351) umgibt, und die zweite nach oben vorstehende Rippe (1352) so angeordnet ist, dass sie die zweite nach unten vorstehende Rippe (1342) umgibt.
  5. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner eine Wasserpumpe aufweist, die im Wassersammelteil (1315) installiert ist,
    wobei ein in Bezug auf dem Kondensatableiter (1350) gegenüberliegender Abschnitt der Wasserpumpe unter den Seitenflächen des Wassersammelteils (1315) durch eine der nach oben vorstehenden Rippen (1341, 1342) und der nach unten vorstehenden Rippen (1341, 1342) definiert ist, die an einer äußersten Seite angeordnet ist.
  6. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner einen abgestuften Abschnitt (1360) aufweist, der von einer Grenze zwischen der Bodenfläche des Wassersammelteils (1315) und dem Kondensatableiter (1350) nach oben vorsteht, um mit der Bodenfläche des Wassersammelteils (1315) eine Stufe zu bilden.
  7. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner einen abgestuften Abschnitt (1360) aufweist, der von einer Grenze zwischen der Bodenfläche des Wassersammelteils (1315) und dem Kondensatableiter (1350) nach oben vorsteht, um mit der Bodenfläche des Wassersammelteils (1315) eine Stufe zu bilden,
    wobei der abgestufte Abschnitt (1360) durch eine der nach oben vorstehenden Rippen (1341, 1342) gebildet wird, die an einer äußersten Seite angeordnet ist.
  8. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, die ferner eine Wasserpumpe (1440) aufweist, die am Wassersammelteil (1315) angebracht ist, um das im Wassersammelteil (1315) gesammelte Kondenswasser zu transferieren,
    wobei die Wasserpumpe (1440) Schaufeln (1441) aufweist, die drehbar zur Bodenfläche des Wassersammelteils (1315) angeordnet sind, und
    wobei der abgestufte Abschnitt (1360) so ausgebildet ist, dass ein oberes Ende davon niedriger ist als die unteren Enden der Schaufeln (1441),
    und vorzugsweise
    wobei die Abdeckung (1340) so konfiguriert ist, dass sie die Wasserpumpe (1440) abdeckt.
  9. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 8, wobei die Abdeckung (1340) aufweist:
    einen Kondensatableiter-Abdeckungsabschnitt (1340a), der an einer Oberseite des Kondensatableiters (1350) so ausgebildet ist, dass er dem Kondensatableiter (1350) gegenüberliegt; und
    einen Schlauchverbindungsabschnitt (1343), der von der nach unten vorstehenden Rippe (1341, 1342) zu einer Oberseite der Abdeckung (1340) durch den Kondensatableiter-Abdeckungsabschnitt (1340a) vorsteht, und
    wobei die Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung ferner aufweist:
    einen Wasserbehälter (1410), der mit der Wasserpumpe (1440) verbunden und konfiguriert ist, das von der Wasserpumpe (1440) transferierte Kondenswasser aufzunehmen;
    einen Wasserbehälter-Halterahmen (1430), der den Wasserbehälter (1410) hält und konfiguriert ist, das aus dem Wasserbehälter (1410) überlaufende Kondenswasser aufzunehmen; und
    einen Rücklaufschlauch (1454), der mit dem Wasserbehälter-Halterahmen (1430) und dem Schlauchverbindungsabschnitt (1343) verbunden ist, um das zum Wasserbehälter-Halterahmen (1430) überlaufende Kondenswasser zum Wassersammelteil (1315) zurückzuführen.
  10. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 9, wobei der Rücklaufschlauch (1454) eine tangentiale Neigung größer als Null in einem gesamten Abschnitt davon in Bezug auf einen Boden aufweist, wo die Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung installiert ist, um zu verhindern, dass sich das Kondenswasser darin ansammelt.
  11. Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Basis (1310) eine Bruchschutzrippe (1370) aufweist, die um den Kondensatableiter (1350) herum ausgebildet ist, und
    wobei die Bruchschutzrippe (1370) von einer unteren Fläche der Basis (1310) nach unten vorsteht und ein unteres Ende der Bruchschutzrippe (1370) an einer Position angeordnet ist, die niedriger als eine untere Fläche des Kondensatableiters (1350) ist,
    und vorzugsweise
    wobei die Bruchschutzrippe (1370) so ausgebildet ist, dass sie den Kondensatableiter (1350) umgibt.
EP19798871.0A 2018-05-08 2019-05-08 Bekleidungsbehandlungsvorrichtung Active EP3792390B1 (de)

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KR1020180052733A KR20190128484A (ko) 2018-05-08 2018-05-08 의류 처리 장치
KR1020180052742A KR102568205B1 (ko) 2018-05-08 2018-05-08 의류 처리 장치
KR1020180052745A KR102659397B1 (ko) 2018-05-08 2018-05-08 의류처리장치 및 그의 제어방법
KR1020180053337A KR20190128944A (ko) 2018-05-09 2018-05-09 의류처리장치 및 그의 제어방법
KR1020180055603A KR20190130898A (ko) 2018-05-15 2018-05-15 의류처리장치 및 그의 제어방법
PCT/KR2019/005488 WO2019216639A1 (ko) 2018-05-08 2019-05-08 의류처리장치 및 이의 제어방법

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AU2019267033A1 (en) 2021-04-08
CN112074638B (zh) 2023-03-10
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EP4310241A2 (de) 2024-01-24
US20240052550A1 (en) 2024-02-15
EP3792390A1 (de) 2021-03-17
EP4310241A3 (de) 2024-03-06
WO2019216639A1 (ko) 2019-11-14
CN112074638A (zh) 2020-12-11
US20210187559A1 (en) 2021-06-24
US11834774B2 (en) 2023-12-05

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